THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Isaiah: Jahweh Is Salvation

Part XVII. Personally Offsetting Spiritual Darkness By Looking To The Word Incarnate Alone

B. The Word Incarnate's Fulfilling, Ruling Ministry

(Isaiah 9:6-7)

I. Introduction

A. We learned in past lessons that when Judah's people and king who were terrified of the threat of an invasion by the Aram-Israel union chose not to trust in God or heed His Word in addressing their fear (Isaiah 7:1-8:18), but instead turned to false spirit mediums for comfort and guidance, and so tragically slipped into deep gloom and spiritual darkness (Isaiah 8:19-22), God in grace planned to send His Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, to rescue Judah as her "Great Light," Isaiah 9:1-5.

B. In wonderful conclusion to this deliverance, Isaiah 9:6-7 anticipates the future ruling ministry of the Word Incarnate in His Messianic reign, which ministry will offset all of His people's problems (as follows):

II. The Word Incarnate's Fulfilling, Ruling Ministry, Isaiah 9:6-7.

A. Continuing the theme introduced in Isaiah 9:1-5 on the Word Incarnate's arrival and deliverance of Judah, Isaiah clarified the solution-offering characteristics and Messianic reign of the "Great Light," Jesus, Isaiah 9:6:

1. That "Great Light" would come as a child born and a son given unto Judah, a human being, Isaiah 9:6a.

2. This human being would grow up to have the government placed upon His shoulder (Isaiah 9:6b), alluding to "the kingly robe to be worn by the Messiah" in governing Judah and Israel effectively in contrast to the incompetent, ungodly kings they then had in Judah and Israel, Bible Know. Com., O. T., p. 1053.

3. Messiah's name revealed He would solve the nation's problems, Isaiah 9:6c,d,e,f:

a. He would be called "Wonderful Counselor," i. e., "Supernatural Counselor" (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978, ftn. to Isaiah 9:6) to correct the people's futile, tragic turn to false mediums in Isaiah 8:19; Isa. 9:6c.

b. He would be called "The Mighty God," meaning this human Messiah to be born would also be God, a reference to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, and as "The Mighty God" and God Incarnate, He would save all who trusted in Him from enemy lands as was also taught back in Isaiah 8:8-9; Isaiah 9:6d.

c. Messiah would be called "the Everlasting Father," not to be confused with the first Person of the Godhead in God the Father, but a term meaning "The Father of Eternity" in the sense of Messiah's being a Father figure to the nation to protect, guide and sustain her in overcoming all of her insecurities as seen back in Isaiah 7:10-16; Isaiah 9:6e; Edward J. Young, The Book of Isaiah, 1974, v. I, p. 338-339.

d. Messiah would be called "The Prince of Peace:" as a Prince, He would inherit all kingdoms, including the dreaded Aram-Israel alliance that terrified Judah; as the Prince of Peace, He would end the threat of war from all Judah's foes, what had so frightened Judah back in Isaiah 7:2; Isaiah 9:6f.

B. This "Great Light," Messiah Jesus, would rule in such a way that He met all of the nation's needs, Isaiah 9:7:

1. The Hebrew word for "Prince" in Isaiah 9:6 is sar, so Isaiah continued in Isaiah 9:7a to write of the government of that "Prince," His misrah, a play on words (the misrah of the sar), to add that His government would increase along with increased peace, Ibid., p. 342.

2. That increase of government and peace would be endless as the Messiah ruled on the throne of David and His kingdom to order and to establish it with judgment and righteousness, Isaiah 9:7b.

3. This judgment and justice would mark His government forever, producing endless blessing of national security very opposite the grave insecurities that repeatedly upset Judah's people in Isaiah's era, Isa. 9:7c.

4. Isaiah added that "the zeal of the Lord Almighty" (NIV) would do this, that the kingdom's establishment and blessing would not rise from human initiative or power, but from God alone, for "(w)ithout His sovereign intervention there would be no kingdom for Israel," Isaiah 9:7d; Ibid., Bible Know. Com., O. T.

Lesson: All of the problems Judah and Israel faced in Isaiah's time would be fully and eternally solved with the coming of Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, to set up His blessed Messianic Kingdom.

Application: (1) May we trust in Jesus Christ to have eternal life, John 3:16, 36. (2) May we look to Him TODAY as God Incarnate and our (a) Supernatural Counselor for all our needs of advice via His written word as He is the Word Incarnate, cf. John 1:1, 14; Rev. 19:11-16; as our (b) Mighty God to save us from all sin and defeat; as our (c) Father of Eternity, eternally providing protection, guidance and sustenance and as our (d) Prince of Peace, our coming Hope as the Messiah to bless us eternally and completely in His just, righteous rule of the world.